Earthquake Preparedness: Save Seconds, Save Lives

0:00It's April 16. From your city to your ears, this is California News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story. April marks earthquake preparedness month here in California, so it's prime time to double check your safety plans, refresh those disaster supplies, and sign up for alerts like the My Shake app to get a heads up before the big shakes hit. These early warning systems, powered by Shake Alert, can predict quakes but can give you precious seconds of notice. The closer to the epicenter, the shorter the window, depending on depth and fault type. That's enough time to drop, cover, and hold on, or lot cover and hold on if you're driving. Folks often fall for old myths by grinding outside during a shake or heading for a doorway. Modern buildings make that risky. Better to stay put under something sturdy inside, or move away from trees and hazards if outdoors. Under rivers or big water like in Sacramento, quakes could damage dams or spark tsunamis,

1:00though the area is somewhat protected, just stay tuned to local guidance. Head to earthquake.gov for a readiness guide unpacking a go bag or stay box with non-parasables, water, meds, docks, flashlight, batteries, and A. Radio. Shake Alert goes further for businesses, triggering auto actions like opening bay doors, halting elevators, or flashing lights to protect staff and spots. It prepped now, and those seconds could save lives.